Silo unloading apparatus

ABSTRACT

Silo unloading apparatus of the bottom unloading type is provided, wherein an auger is mounted for rotation on its own axis and for arcuate sweeping motion across the floor of the silo, conveying silage toward a central opening, and a single drive is provided for driving a central shaft that both rotates the auger about its own axis, and which rotates an intermediate mechanism that transfers relatively uniform rotational motion from the shaft into an intermittent rotational motion whereby a ring gear located beneath the center of the silo and which carries the mount for the auger, may be engaged by push-pull mechanisms that function as force or torque multipliers. The ring gear, upon being engaged and moved, caused the incremental sweeping motion of the auger across the floor. A manual adjustment is provided for interrupting the advancing motion of the auger, if desired. A switch mechanism disposed in a hopper beneath the auger, which switch is sensitive to the presence or absence of silage therein, and can actuate the single motor that drives the central shaft, when the hopper is sufficiently empty to accommodate the receipt of additional silage therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 302,191, filedSept. 14, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,687, which, in turn is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 191,071, filed Sept. 26,1980, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,364, the entire disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the art of unloading a silo, andparticularly to a silo unloader of the bottom unloading type, whereinsilage is conveyed to a central opening in the silo floor, to drop downa chute from that opening, into a zone beneath the silo floor, and thento be delivered from that zone to a point outside the silo, by means ofan exit auger. Similar devices have been developed in the past; such asare shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,095,703 and 4,057,151. Such devicesgenerally work very well, and are particularly advantageous for silos ofwider diameters, where it is desirable to effect the advancing of theauger across the floor, by engaging the auger at a point remote from thecenter of the silo, in order to provide the necessary forces for pushingthe auger into silage that is accumulated remote distances from thecenter of the silo.

The present invention is directed principally to those silo unloaders ofthe bottom unloader types, in which the silos are generally smaller indiameter and consequently the resistance that the auger meets upon beingadvanced forward across the floor of a silo, is necessarily less thanwith silos of larger diameters. Consequently, the drive for advancingthe auger across the floor may take place at a more central location,and still achieve the necessary forces for driving the auger intosilage.

To this end, the present invention is addressed to driving the auger, inits sweeping motion, through a generally centrally located auger mount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward an intermittent drive providedfor an auger, in its sweeping motion, through a generally central mountat the bottom of the silo, by means of rotationally driving a ring-likeportion of the mount. The drive for the ring-like portion of the mountwill preferrably be from the same motor that provides the rotation ofthe auger on its own axis, and will preferrably be disconnectabletherefrom, by manual means, upon the auger meeting compacted silage. Aconversion mechanism is provided as part of the intermittent drive meansfor converting a continuous rotational motion of a generally centraldrive shaft, into an intermittent motion that is provided by a pair ofsuccessively operatively connected torque or force multipliers. Theforce multipliers may include eccentrics mounted on shaft, for drivingdrive rods in a push-pull motion. A sensing device in the hopper belowthe silo discharge opening may sense silage accumulation or vacation,and accordingly deactuate or actuate the auger drive.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novelcombination drive for an auger conveyor of the silo bottom unloadertype, in which a common drive provides both the motion for the rotationof the auger on its own axis, and an intermittent advancement or sweepof the auger across the silo floor by driving the auger from a generallyradial central location within the silo.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above object,wherein a conversion mechanism is employed as part of the intermittentdrive for the auger, for taking a continuous rotational motion from acentral drive shaft, and converting it into the intermittent drive.

It is a further object of this invention to drive an auger, in itsintermittent sweeping motion across the silo floor, by means of drivingthe auger mount from a generally central silo floor location.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mechanism fordriving an auger, wherein a pair of successively operatively connectedtorque multiplier devices are employed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a common motivedrive for both rotating an auger of a silo of the bottom unloader type,as well as for providing an intermittent sweeping motion across the silofloor, with a disconnect means being provided, for disconnecting thesweeping motion from the auger rotation motion.

It is another object of this invention to provide novel force or torquemultiplier apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will be readily understood from a readingof the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, detaileddescriptions of the preferred embodiments, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken through a siloand unloader mechanism in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and fragmentary transverse sectional view, takengenerally along the line II--II of FIG. 1, and illustrates an example ofa conversion of substantially uniform rotary motion, into intermittentrotational motion for driving the auger in its sweeping motion acrossthe silo floor.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged and fragmentary transverse sectional view, takenthrough the ring gear drive of this invention, generally along the lineIII--III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and fragmentary vertical sectional view, takenthrough the shaft eccentrics illustrated in FIG. 3, generally along theline IV--IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, of the drive motor and pulleyarrangements of this invention, taken generally along the line V--V ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary prospective view of a portion of an alternativemodification of the drive for the ring portion or turntable.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary prospective view of another portion ofthe modification of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG.1, wherein there is illustrated the unloading apparatus of thisinvention, generally designated by the numeral 10. The lower floor ofthe silo is indicated by the number 11 and shows a fragmentaryillustrated auger 12 mounted in an auger mount 13, at its left end, orgenerally centrally of the silage discharge opening 16. The auger 12 istherefore mounted at its radial intermost end, with the mount 13including a bearing therein, that engages the portion of the auger 12that passes therethrough, with the bearing 13 being suitably carried forrotation by a gear box 14 that, in turn, is mounted on a diametricallydisposed plate 15.

The mount 13, carried by the gear box or other transmission device 14,is in turn, ultimately carried by the transverse plate 15, retangular inplan view (not shown), and extending diametrically, but chordally,across the top of the opening 16 in the center of the silo. The plate 15is thus mounted on the silo floor, rigidly, at 18, and while it extendsacross the entire opening 16 as viewed in FIG. 1, is relatively narrowas viewed in plan (not shown) to allow for passage of silage thereby, infront of, and behind the plate 15 as viewed in FIG. 1.

Thus, the mount 13 moves rotationally relative to the plate 15 thatsupports the transmission device 14 and the mount 13. The transmissiondevice 14 effects a right angle change of direction, from the rotatingmotion provided by the main drive shaft 20, to drive the auger 12 aboutits own axis. The main drive shaft 20 is driven through pulley 21, thatin turn is driven by belts 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2, that in turn aredriven from pulley 23. The pulley 23 is carried on a shaft 25, that inturn projects endwise from bearings 26 and 27, that in turn, are carriedby mounting frame 28. A clutch device 30 connects shaft 25, and a shaft31, for transmitting drive from the shaft 31, to the shaft 25. The shaft31 is likewise bearing mounted at 32 and 33, by bearings that are alsocarried on mounting block 28 as viewed in FIG. 5. The shaft 31 is drivenby means of a pulley 34, that, in turn, is driven by pulley belts 35,that are driven by pulley 36 carried by main motor shaft 37.

The motor 38, for driving the above drive chain, and consequently, themain drive shaft 20, is generally an electric AC motor, mounted on asliding base 40 that is carried by the mounting bracket 28, for slidingbackward and forward along guide rails 41 thereof, by means of a slidemount 42, illustrated in FIG. 2, that carries guide posts 43 havingcompression springs 44 thereon, for urging the motor as viewed in FIG.2, in a direction that will maintain the pulley belts 35, in tautcondition.

The mounting bracket 28 is pivot mounted at 46, on a support arm 47,that in turn, is carried on the exterior of the cylindrical sheet metalchute 48, that depends downward, rigidly disposed, and carried from thefloor 11 of the silo. The left-most end of the mounting bracket 28 isurged away from the chute 48, by means of a compression spring 50carried on spring guide 51, and urged against a spring seat 52, alsocarried by the exterior of the chute 48. Consequently, it will be seenthat the mounting bracket 28 is urged into an outwardly pivotedcondition, whereby the belts 22 may remain taut.

A plurality of supports 55 extend radially inwardly from the chute 48,for supporting a fixed cylindrical member 56 carried therein, insidewhich rotates a ring-like portion 17, as dictated by the intermittentdrive means described hereinafter.

The ring-like portion 17 is thus moveable in a clockwise direction, asviewed in FIG. 3, by means of dogs 58 and 60, that engage in a toothedperiphery 61, as will be described hereinafter.

The intermittent drive for advancing the auger across the silo floor isprovided as follows. The main drive shaft 20 is provided with a pulley64 carried thereby, for rotation therewith, as dictated by the motor 38.As the pulley 64 is driven, it drives drive belts 65, that, in turn,drive pulley 66 in the clockwise direction illustrated in FIG. 2. Thepulley 66 is mounted so as to have its shaft 67 carried by a bearing 68.The bearing 68 is carried by a pulley support 70. The support 70 isprovided with a bearing 71 on its other end, that mounts a shaft 72,which shaft 72 is provided with a bearing mount 73, which mount 73serves to fixedly mount shaft 72 to frame 74. Consequently, the pulleymount 70 is mounted for pivotal movement at shaft 72, at its lower endas viewed in FIG. 2, but is mounted for sliding movement along guide rod75 at its upper end, in order to maintain the belts 65 taut as shown.The guide 75 is carried on the exterior of the chute 48, by means of amounting bracket 76, and compression springs 77, urge the pulley 66toward a taut condition of the belt 65.

An eccentric 80 is carried on shaft 67, for rotation therewith, and, inturn, has a bearing 81 slidably mounted thereon, the bearing 81comprising one end of a drive rod 82 that functions as a push-pull rod,moveable backward and forward, in the direction of the double headedarrow 83, as dictated by the rotating eccentric 80. The drive rod 82 hasa pivoted connection at 84 at its lower end as viewed in FIG. 2,terminating in a plunger mount 85.

Disposed in and carried by the plunger mount 85, is a spring-biasedplunger 86, having a chamfered tooth-engaging tip 87, normallymaintained in tooth-engaged position between teeth of a toothed sprocketwheel 88, as shown, by means of compression spring 90. The plunger 86has a manually actuable handle 91, to be engaged and retracted, suchthat the tip 87 is withdrawn from the teeth, against the force appliedby the spring 90, and such that the locking key 92 carried by theplunger 86 is withdrawn beyond the keyway member 93, and the plungerhandle 91 is turned, such that the key 92 engages against an outersurface 94 of the keyway member 93, so that the tip 87 is in disengagedrelation relative to the toothed wheel 88. The manual actuation willgenerally be done, when the auger has advanced into compacted silage,and it is desired to continue the rotation of the auger on its own axis,for clearing the compacted silage while the auger remains in a fixedposition relative to the silo floor, and consequently it is desired todisengage temporarily the sweeping motion of the auger 12 across thefloor 11. This will leave the drive rod 82, moving in a back-and-forthmotion, without transmitting a drive to the toothed wheel 88.

It will be noted that the operation described above, for driving the rod82, and consequently the plunger tip 87 by means of the eccentric 80,effects a conversion of a continuous rotary motion, into a discontinuousor intermittent linear back-and-forth motion of the plunger tip 87, thatacts to drive the toothed wheel 88 in an intermittent rotational motion.Also, the toothed wheel 88 is driven through only a short arc with eachrotation of the eccentric 80, and consequently a greater rotationalmotion of the shaft 20, and of the eccentric 80, is translated into alesser, or shorter arcuate or intermittent rotational motion of thesprocket 88, and thereby the mechanism for doing so functions as a forceor torque multiplier for allowing a larger motion of lesser torque,delivering a smaller motion of greater torque.

It will also be noted that the chamfered surface 95 of the plunger tip87 allows the plunger tip 87, upon its retracted motion, or upward asviewed in FIG. 2, to ride up over a tooth of the toothed wheel, againstthe compressive force provided by the spring 90, in the returning orretracted motion of the drive rod 82. A pawl 96, pivotally mounted at97, and spring-biased into engagement with the toothed periphery of thetoothed wheel 88, as shown in FIG. 2 by means of an extension spring 98,functions to maintain the toothed wheel 88 in a given position, to whichit has been moved upon downward motion of the plunger tip 87, but whichwill hold the wheel 88 in that position while the chamfered surface 95is riding up over a tooth, in its return motion, so that the cam surface99 of the pawl 96 allows movement of the sprocket wheel 88 only in thedirection of the arrow 100 illustrated in FIG. 2. Consequently, the pawl96, together with the plunger 86, function with the toothed sprocketwheel 88, as a ratchet device.

The toothed wheel 88 thereby provides intermittent rotation to the shaft72.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the shaft 72extends upwardly, and is mounted by bearing members 103 and 104, carriedrespectively by walls 105 and 106 of a housing member 107. The shaft 72has a pair of eccentrics 110 and 111 carried thereby, for rotationtherewith, that in turn are rotatively carried in legs of a yoke member112.

Another eccentric 113 is rotationally carried in bearing member 114 of adrive rod 115. The yoke member 112 functions as one end of a drive rod116. Rotation of the toothed sprocket wheel 88, in the clockwisedirection of the arrow 18 illustrated in FIG. 3, will simultaneouslydrive the drive rod 16 in the direction of the arrow 120, as it drivesthe drive rod 115, in the retracted direction of the arrow 121 of FIG.3. The effect of this, is that dog 58, in engagement with the toothedring portion 61, will drive the ring portion 61 in an intermittentrotational motion, in the clockwise direction of the arrow 122, with themechanism again functioning to translate a larger arcuate motion of thetoothed wheel 88, into a smaller arcuate motion, or angular rotation ofthe toothed wheel 61, thereby undergoing a force or torquemultiplication. Upon the drive rod 115 being moved in a retracteddirection, the dog 60, by means of its chamfered surface 123, will slideover teeth of the toothed wheel 61, against the force provided byextension spring 124. Extension spring 124 tends to urge the drive rods115 and 116, toward each other, in that it connects their middleportions 125 and 126 respectively carried thereby. The rods 115 and 116are adjustable in length, with threaded adjustment nuts 129 disposedinwardly of the middle portions 125 and 126.

When the eccentrics 110 and 111 function to drive the drive rod 116upwardly, contrary to the direction of the arrow 120, it will be seenthat the chamfered surface 128 of dog 56 will ride up over the toothedperiphery of ring-like portion 61, while the dog 60, urged by theeccentric 113 operating through the drive rod 115, will engage betweenteeth of the toothed ring portion 61, and drive the same in thedirection of arrow 122, as the drive rod 115 moves contrary to thedirection of the arrow 121.

It will thus be apparent that the motion of the toothed wheel 88 istranslated to the toothed wheel or ring portion 61, for driving the ringmember 17 in the direction of the arrow 122, by means of a ratchet-likemechanism described above.

The drive of the ring-portion 17, thereby drives the mount member 13 inthe same arcuate motion as the member 17, and thereby provides theintermittent sweeping drive for the auger 12, across the floor of thesilo.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that silage therefore is conveyedalong the flites of the auger 12, toward the opening 16 provided in thedischarge chute 48, to be delivered into the hopper 130.

The pulleys 21 and 64, and their associated belts 22 and 65, are housedin a housing member 131 that extends chordally, diametrically across theinterior of the chute 48, for shrouding those belts, pulleys, etc. frombeing clogged with silage passing through the opening 16.

Access is provided into the bottom of the housing 131 by means of anopenable closure 132, for the sealed opening 133. The closure or door132 is clamped in place by means of a suitable clamping device 134, whenaccess is not required.

The chute or hopper 130 is removably connected to the bottom of thecylindrical member 48 at the sealed juncture 135. Disposed in the chute130, is a pressure plate 136, provided with a switching device 137.

An exit auger 138, is disposed in the bottom of the hopper 130, fordelivering silage from the hopper 130, up outwardly of the silo, foruse. The auger 138 is driven, through a suitable transmission device140, by means of an electric motor 141, with the auger 138, generallybeing continuously driven as silage is being removed from a silo.

As the rotation of the auger 12 on its own axis, and its sweeping motionacross the silo floor, biting into the silage, delivers silage into theopening 12, and as the hopper 130 becomes filled, the auger 138 iscontinually removing the silage. However, if such occurs at a greaterrate than removal can take place by means of the auger 138, and silageaccumulates in the hopper 130, electric leds 132, 142 and 143, triggeredby the switching device 137, will cause the motor 138 to shut down,until sufficient silage can be removed from the hopper 130 by the auger138, that the switching device 137, will again be activated, upon thesensing of less pressure against the plate 136. Consequently, the motor138 will again be reactivated such that silage can once again bedelivered to the opening 16, by the auger 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 in detail, it will be seen that analternative drive mechanism 200 is illustrated, as including a toothedwheel 201 that functions like the toothed wheel 88 of FIG. 2, in that itis driven by means of a push rod 202, that is driven off an eccentric203, from the main shaft, and drives through a toothed ratchet assembly204 (not shown in detail), for indexing or rotating the toothed wheel201 through a small increment of motion, with each revolution of theeccentric 203, driving the toothed wheel 201 in the direction of thearrow 205 indicated as the rod 202 moves back and forth, but with themechanism 204 functioning such that the rod 202 lifts up over the teethof the toothed wheel 201, one at a time, by means of a suitable chamferinside mechanism 204, and thereby permitting the return of rod 202against the force provided by a spring 206. The eccentric 203 is onshaft 208, similar to shaft 67 of FIG. 2. Shaft 208 is the output shaftof a gearbox 210, that is laterally offset from gearbox inlet shaft 211,with the shaft 211, in turn, being driven by a pulley 212 that in turnis driven by means of a belt 213 that in turn is driven by a motor 214.It will be noted that a shaft 208 that drives the eccentric 203, unlikethe shaft 67 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 is also the central shaft thatdrives the auger for rotation on its own axis.

As toothed wheel 201 is thus moved intermittently, by means provided bythe torque multiplier means of components 203, 202, 204 and 201, itsimilarly drives shaft 220 in an intermittent motion. The toothed wheel201 is provided with a holding arm 221 spring biased by means of spring222, against the periphery of the wheel 201, with the holding arm 201having a chamfered dog 223 at its outer-most end, in engagement betweenadjacent teeth on the wheel 201, to keep the wheel 201 from rotatingexcept when drive is provided by means of the rod 202, and then theforce provided by the drive will cause the tooth adjacent the dog 223 toengage against the chamfered surface 224 thereof, causing the dog 223 toride upwardly out of the recess between adjacent teeth, and the holdingarm will then be drawn downwardly by means of the spring 222, after thetooth has passed the dog 223.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the shaft 220is provided with an intermittent rotational motion. As the shaft 220rotates, it moves a push arm 230 alternately leftward and rightward. Thepush arm 230 is provided with a dog 231 at its outer end, that isadapted to serially engage within holes 232 on the ring portion orturntable 233. The arm 230 is normally maintained with a dog 231 in suchengagement, by means of a spring 234, engaged with an extension arm 235of eccentric cylinder 236 that likewise carries the arm 230 on shaft220. As the arm 230 is moved leftward, in the direction of the arrow237, its dog 231, in engagement with a hole 232, will index theturntable 233 in the direction of the arrow 238, the distance allowedbetween adjacent holes. As the eccentric reaches its outer limit andbegins to retract the arm 230, a chamfer (not shown) on the right-mostend of the dog 231, allows the dog 231 to ride up out of a hole 232, toreturn rightward against the direction of arrow 237, for subsequentengagement in a next adjacent hole 232.

A holding arm 240 is provided, pivotally mounted at 241, and chamferedat its right end 242. The arm 240 is spring-biased toward the turntable233 by means of spring 243 in engagement with a plate 244 carried by thearm. The driving of the turntable 233 in the direction of arrow 238 bymeans of the dog 231 in engagement with a hole 232 while the arm 230 isbeing driven from the eccentric in the direction of arrow 237, causes astrip portion 245 of the turntable 233, to engage against the chamferedright-most surface 242 of the dog at the end of the holding arm 240,thereby pushing the dog 242 upperwardly against the force provided by aspring 243, to allow the movement of the turntable in the direction ofthe arrow 238. After the push rod 237 discontinues that motion, thespring 243 will allow the dog 239 to again engage in a hole 232 of theturntable. It is thus seen, that with reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, themechanism of FIG. 7 provides an alternative to the push pull arrangementof rods 126, 125 respectively, by utilizing a push rod 230 working inconjunction with a holding arm 240, but in other principal functionalrespects, utilizing similar conversion means as part of the intermittentdrive means, operatively connected to the drive shaft, for convertingcontinuous rotational motion from the drive shaft to an intermittentmotion, with the conversion means comprising one or more successiveoperatively connected torque multiplier means, each for converting agreater motion of lower torque into a lesser motion of greater torque.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the purposes of theinvention are accomplished, in providing for the handling of material,and in the presentation of a novel apparatus for doing so. While variousmodifications may be made in the details of the construction, and in useand operation of the device in accordance with the present invention,all will be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a silo unloader of the bottom unloader typehaving an unloading auger generally radially disposed at the bottom ofthe silo and mounted for rotation on its own axis for intermittentarcuate sweeping movement across the floor of the silo, including anauger mount substantially at the center of the silo at about the floorlevel, said mount being rotationally moveable about a generally verticalaxis and having a ring-like portion disposed in the silo floor andmoveable therewith, including intermittent drive means for engaging saidring-like portion and driving it in a series of repeated intermittentarcuate motions, for driving the auger in a uniform intermittentsweeping motion across the silo floor, whereby materials may bedelivered through a generally centrally located discharge opening in thesilo floor, wherein a drive shaft is provided inside said silo, andmotor means is provided for driving said drive shaft in a continuousrotational motion with means operatively connecting said drive shaft andsaid auger for rotationally driving the auger on its own axis in acontinuous rotational motion from said drive shaft, and whereinconversion means is provided in said silo at the general center thereofas part of said intermittent drive means, operatively connected to saiddrive shaft for converting continuous rotational motion from said driveshaft to an intermittent motion provided to said intermittent drivemeans.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conversion meanscomprises one or more successive operatively connected torque multipliermeans, each for converting a greater motion of lower torque into alesser motion of greater torque, and wherein at least one torquemultiplier means comprises a push rod mounted on an eccentric forengaging the ring-like portion and driving it, and with a holding meansbeing provided, alternately either engaging the ring-like portion andholding it against movement out of phase with said push rod means, andthe releasing said ring-like portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein there are two said torque multiplier means, which include firsteccentric means for transferring continuous rotational drive of saiddrive shaft into a push-pull linear motion of a first drive rod means,ratchet means operatively connecting said first drive rod means and arotational means for transferring the push-pull motion of the drive rodinto intermittent rotational motion of said rotational means, and secondeccentric means carried by said rotational means for transferring theintermittent rotational motion of said rotational means to a push-pullmotion of a second drive rod means, and second ratchet means operativelyconnecting said second drive rod means and ring-like portion fortransferring the push-pull motion of said second drive rod means to anintermittent rotational motion of said mount.